Note: I think you guys are going to like this one... Thanks for the support!

Chapter 5: Retrieval

Steve felt warm inside. He didn't really know why, but he didn't really care either. Maybe it was because he had flattered Vanish? Or was it simply the pumpkin pie spices kicking in? He had a feeling it was the first possibility.

Suddenly, with a jump, he remembered that he had forgotten something. Something vital to his survival. "My pack! I misplaced it in the caves!"

Vanish looked up at him, and with a proud smile, replied, "Oh, I can get it back for you! Where was it again?"

Steve tried to focus on the memories of his quaint cabin. It was still fuzzy from his trip through The Other Way, and could barely even recognize his own home. With hesitation, he was finally able to respond, "It's not far from my home... And it's... By a mountain with four peaks on it... Sheep everywhere." He pointed towards where the mountains shielded the sunset.

"Got it!" Vanish yelled, and disappeared with a *voop*.

Steve was alone now, and he decided to sit down and wait for her return. His hands under his head, he gazed up towards the emerging stars as he took slow, subtle breaths. He could already feel his eye lids descending over his spheres of sight. The Other Way had taken a lot of energy out of him, and his body was demanding that he rested. Begrudgingly, he complied.

Good night, he thought, hope the bed bugs don't bite.

Bed bugs. Monsters.

It was night fall. And he was about to fall asleep. On top of a hill. Unprotected.

With startling speed, he rose off of the ground in a panic. He looked at the setting sun one more time—It had already cowered behind the mountain tops. And the moon had made its voyage across the Earth to meet him.

Steve got into a battle-ready stance, eager to deliver devastating blows to a walking corpse. He reached for his sword, keeping his eyes in front of the steady slope of the hill that lead down towards the dark forest.

His right hand reached for the hilt. It didn't find anything. Steve was terrified, and kept feeling for the end of his blade—Nothing. He had left it down in the caves next to the slice of pie along with the rest of his items. He was defenseless.

Something was walking towards him. Slowly, but with intent. Steve whirled around, and came face to face with the decaying remains of a human.

"How did you get up here? It's a straight drop—"

The ghastly creature lunged towards him with a groan of discomfort. It probably pained his rotting bones to even move. Steve yelped, and kicked it square in the sternum. His shoe went right through, with a sickening, fleshy crunch, and lodged inside of its chest. The ribcage encased his foot, trapping it—He was connected to the damn thing now.

The zombie quickly grabbed Steve's knee, and forcefully pulled it towards its gapping maw. Steve screamed in terror, and attempted to shove it farther away from him. His foot held strong, and so did the creature's hands. The creature dug its nails into his leg in frustration, and heaved it towards its mouth. A wet pop emerged from Steve's hip. Steve howled in pain, and feebly tried to fix his new injury with soft clutching.

The thing's crooked teeth were dangerously close to his dislocated leg, and he could feel the cold breath on his kneecap. This was it, Steve thought. I'm dying to the remains of a deceased fellow survivor. How ironic.

*shwack*

The arrow in the skull of the monster vibrated from the force of its flight. With curdled blood pouring out of its eye socket, the zombie fell over onto the ground, taking Steve and his caught leg with him. While still trying to free his shoe from the meaty trap, he looked over his shoulder to see what had attempted to kill him. A Stray looked right back at him, as it nocked another arrow into the splintered bow it held in its visible phalanges.

In one final attempt to break free, Steve roared in agony and might as he ripped his foot from the rotten ribcage. His eyes whelmed as the unbearable pain from his pelvis slammed into his conscious. But even that didn't match the sting from the Stray's arrow piercing his intestines.

Steve cried out loud as he felt his organs contract in confusion and sudden discomfort. Stunned from the blow, he tried to hobble his way towards the edge of the cliff. He needed to get out of here, or he'd become one of them.

He made it to the edge before another arrow found its way to his shoulder blade. Steve howled once more as he realized his plan of hanging off the edge wasn't going to work anymore. He wasn't going to die to the Stray. He was going to die to the ground. Yes, he thought, I'm not joining them.

He prepared to jump, desperate to leave the world in peace, as one more arrow destroyed his good leg. He collapsed onto the ground, still screaming from the torture of it all. He heard the skeleton approach with every bony step louder than the last. As Steve's vision faded, he looked up one last time before he slipped from consciousness. The skeleton stopped in front of him, readied his final arrow, and aimed directly for Steve's face.

"p-p-please... no..." he quietly whispered.

*thwack*